I just thought I'd put in a post about a company I am setting up called Marvin Computers, and see if there was any interest in the community. I've been working on some models, and Linux compatible hardware, with the aim of primarily building high quality, Linux systems in the UK and Europe. I will ship to any part of the world of course

I wanted to see if there was any interest in these systems in the Linux community, and get some feedback about products to develop, and what sort of specification and price ranges people would be interested in. I'd like to make sure I provide products people want, at fair prices, and so I hoped the Linux community would be a good place to start. Sorry if this is a shameless plug, or is not suitable for the forum it's in...

The website (not yet live) is at http://www.marvincomputers.co.uk. You won't be able to purchase anything yet, but you can take a look and let me know what you think, and I'd love to get feedback about what sort of hardware and software you'd like me to stock. The password for the site is testing. You'll need that to get onto the site until it launches.

A few ideas which I will be implementing, but might not be clear yet from the site:

- We'll be stocking a range of commercial software for Linux, including games.
- I'm planning a HTPC Mythbuntu/MythTV model in the future
- I'd like to add some AMD based models, and am presently researching that
- I'm interested in providing a Linux music recording (DAW) solution at some point
- I'd like to stock a range of lower end PCs too, which are cheaper, but keeping in with the same sort of high end designs.
- I'd like to include legal BluRay playback software, but none is yet available for Linux (at least that I am aware of).
- All the PCs will include Fluendo codecs licenses when sold with Linux.

I'm focussing on Ubuntu to start off with, but I hope to be able to add testing of more distributions in the future.

Anyway, sorry for going on! I hope there's some interest, and I'd love to hear your comments, good or bad, about the site and the products.

Oh by the way, if you provide me with any feedback I'd by happy to PM you a 15% discount code for the site when it launches - just ask

To start off with I'm going for home and SOHO desktop markets, with a mind to looking at producing some server products too in the future. I'd like to produce laptops and netbooks as well, but at it's a difficult market to compete in, and as I'm just starting out, I don't think that will be possible in the short term. Perhaps later when I have built up supplier relationships

We're offering 3 year warranties on all the systems, and we will provide hardware support, for faults and getting hardware working correctly on Linux. I hope to provide Linux software support through a partner organisation (perhaps Canonical, but maybe someone local to the UK if I find a suitable organisation).

Let me know what you think of the models I've specced to start off with

I'd love to make a touchscreen netbook with Linux on it. I'll have a look at what's available and see if Marvin could provide something similar. In the meantime, the ASUS Eee PC T91 looks pretty good. Doesn't come with Linux pre installed, but it might be suitable for installing it on.

I've had a little look around your site and I can only admire your ambition.
I am curious as to why the gaming PC isn't offered with an extra graphics card as a cost add on, but I suppose it is, as you say, a work in progress.
Best of luck to you anyway.

Had a quick look. Can't really comment on current prices/specs but the site looks cool and focused. A couple of small things though, on the Products page. I'd like to see a minimal descriptor for some of them before bothering to click through - it's hard to tell whether the Cubed is a PC or a NAS or maybe a scanner/copier/printer. And why does the sysadmin kit show just one monitor? Even if retouching one behind the other is beyond you, perhaps you could show one-and-a-bit?

Also, from experience, have you figured how to promote your web site (e.g. lend LXF some review kit, etc)?

"Klinger, do you know how many zoots were killed to make that one suit?" — BJ Hunnicutt, 4077 M*A*S*H

Had a tour of your site and have to say it appears clean and your gear does look very smart. I can't say I have noticed anything similar that appears of the quality you seem to be putting together over here in Western Australia.

I hope you do really well with this and I will make a point of checking in as you progress as your prices appear reasonable and who knows - if the Aussie dollar is right against the Pound and there is something I am after..

Let me know if you have any ideas of products that I could stock and so on. I am hoping to prepare some discounts for the Linux format readers when we launch in May!

I've put in an AMD system now, and will be adding a similar customisable Intel system, so you can choose a base model, and add upgrades and options to tweak the price and performance to your needs.

The testing on Ubuntu 10.04 is going pretty well so far, and I've not had any major problems. The systems will play multimedia out of the box, and have things like Flash and Java preinstalled. I hope to be able to offer other distributions in the future, and more information about device compatibility and so on.

To answer the earlier question about promotion, I've been looking into advertising with LXF and other magazines which I think might be worthwhile. I'm also going to see if I can hit the expos and trade shows, and advertise on Google and Linux websites.